After 15 and a half years with our rugby club of which the last seven and a half was as Shimla team manager, Dr Riaan Schoeman has called it quits.

His last game as team manager was the Varsity Cup semi-final against the Maties in April of this year.

Schoeman, a lecturer in the B Biokinetics programme in our Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, said he wants to spend more time with his nine-months old boy.

“We also have a new B Sport coaching degree from next year which I’ll be heading. l have to put my time and weight behind it. I also enjoy research and requires time for that,” he explained his decision.

Passionate about Shimlas

His first involvement at the UFS club was as the conditioning coach of the Colts team in 2004. In modern day rugby coaches and team managers come and go quickly, but Schoeman was an exception. As Shimla team manager from 2012 he was involved in about 134 matches plus a further 126 with the sevens team.

“I am very passionate about the Shimlas. It is truly a lot of fun on tours and I enjoy working with the students. You need to make it special for the players.

“The most pleasing aspect was knowing the players and ensuring they have everything they required to perform. It was special when they thanked you afterwards.”

For him winning both the Varsity Cup and Varsity Sevens title in 2015 are highlights of his time as team manager. 

Schoeman worked with coaches like Franco Smith, Michael Horak, Jaco Swanepoel and Hendro Scholtz. In his time Heinrich Brüssow, Ox Nche, Oupa Mohoje, Jamba Ulengo and Raymond Rhule all became Springboks and Philip Snyman, JW Jonker and Boom Prinsloo Blitsboks.